February 2018

My February Picks

Sweep away post-holiday blues with "Fusiform Gyrus -- A Septet for Two Scientists and Five Horns" written and composed by OBIE Award winner Ellen Maddow at HERE. I'm utterly intrigued by eccentric scientists, a brass quintet, and oh, that fabulous title!

Another to give us respite from the realities of the 21st Century is "The Amateurs" by Jordan Harrison, who wrote the remarkable "Marjorie Prime," a Pulitzer Prize finalist of 2015. I want to frolic with a troupe of pageant players attempting to outrace the Black Death of the 14th C. It claims to be a comedy -- soon at the Vineyard Theatre.

I hope "Admissions" at Lincoln Center will give a new slant to the often visited New England prep school setting. It's by Joshua Harmon, who wrote the well-received "Bad Jews" which, I confess I missed -- probably because of the title.

I'll be seeing "Against the Hillside" by Sylvia Khoury at Ensemble Studio Theatre, directed by Billy Carden. Drone surveillance is looked at from the point of view of both the watched and the watcher -- sounds chilling!

Davis Rabe wrote an extraordinary string of hits, "Hurlyburly," "Streamers," "Sticks and Bones," among others. He's back with "Good for Otto" which takes place in a mental health clinic, headed by Ed Harris and Amy Madigan -- a chance to see this magical couple leading a cast of fourteen.

I'll be seeing "An Ordinary Muslim," by Hammaad Chaudry, at New York Theatre Workshop about the ever fascinating clash of cultures -- this time Pakistani/British.

Do see "Kings" by Sarah Burgess playing at the Public if you'd like a comic political piece, which purports to be about a lobbyist's morality, or lack thereof?

"Hello from the Children of Planet Earth," by Don Nguyen, comes to us from the fabulous company The Playwrights Realm. They've discovered terrific new plays and playwrights, time after time -- do look at their past productions, then race to buy tickets.

Finally, don't miss "Queens" by the outstanding playwright Martyna Majok, at Clare Tow. After both "Ironbound" and "Cost of Living," I'll see anything she writes!

Speaking of Theater is a monthly newsletter written by Carol Tambor. Her only objective is to connect New York audiences with excellent Off-Broadway productions, with no commercial interest in any of the shows she recommends.

Carol Tambor is a portrait artist and long-time lover of theater. To see her paintings, please click here. She established the Carol Tambor Theatrical Foundation in 2004 and began publishing this newsletter in 2009.

The Best of Edinburgh is an award given at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which is the largest arts festival in the world. The winner of the Award receives a 4 week, all-expense paid run in New York.

If you'd like to keep up your end of the conversation -- please email me at carol@bestofedinburgh.org with tips about fabulous theater you've seen. There's too much for me to catch everything---- I need my sources!